Chapter 486

Dominic inhaled the metallic scent of blood mixed with antiseptic.

His powerful frame trembled momentarily as weakness overtook him.

Sitting vigil beside Evelyn's hospital bed, his long fingers shook visibly as they brushed through her blood-streaked hair.

When his touch moved lower, Dominic traced the cold pallor of Evelyn's delicate face. The unnatural whiteness made her dark lashes appear even darker against her skin.

"Abortion... curettage... hysterectomy..."

The doctor's clinical terms echoed in his mind. Dominic's hands clenched into fists as the horrific image of Evelyn being struck by the car replayed behind his eyes.

This woman he cherished above all others - the treasure he guarded with obsessive care - now lay broken before him like a dying flower, her life hanging by a thread.

The fragile figure on the bed looked heartbreakingly small and vulnerable.

Dominic gently cradled Evelyn's limp hand. Her fingers felt unnaturally cold from blood loss, refusing to warm despite his desperate grip.

There was no answering squeeze, no playful tracing of circles on his palm like she used to do.

Memories collided with cruel reality, shattering Dominic's composure. His breathing grew ragged with suppressed emotion.

Just hours earlier, she'd texted him about her plans. Now she lay here, battered and barely alive. The injustice of it fueled his simmering rage.

Sebastian observed Dominic's stormy expression before speaking cautiously. "Mr. Blackwood, the hit-and-run driver escaped. We're still determining if it was drunk driving or..."

Dominic's glacial glare cut him off. "Mobilize every resource. Find that bastard - I don't care what it takes!"

Sebastian nodded sharply. More than just a driver, he was former special forces recruited specifically to protect Evelyn.

After receiving further instructions, Sebastian left to investigate the suspicious accident.

"Daddy..." Small voices pulled Dominic from his dark thoughts. Alexander and Isabella stood beside him, their young faces etched with fear as they stared at their unconscious mother.

Isabella burst into fresh tears, clutching Dominic's leg. "It's my fault! If I didn't get a stomachache... if we didn't have to stop... Mommy wouldn't be hurt! Punish me instead, Daddy!"

Her delicate face flushed from crying, the little girl gripped her father's hand desperately.

Dominic gathered his sobbing daughter close, pressing his forehead against hers to hide his own anguish. "This wasn't your fault, sweetheart. Your mother would hate seeing you blame yourself."

Isabella, who bore such striking resemblance to Evelyn, had always held a special place in Dominic's heart.

Even if their daughter's needs had indirectly led to the accident, he refused to let her bear that guilt. She was just a child.

After long minutes, Isabella's tears finally subsided. She gazed at Evelyn with heartbreaking hope. "When will Mommy wake up? I want to say sorry..."

"Mommy needs rest. It might take time." Dominic's voice strained as he studied Evelyn's frightening stillness.

Her unresponsiveness felt like knives slicing through his nerves. The normally unshakable tycoon found himself drowning in unfamiliar fear.

Alexander stood solemnly by the bed. "Dad... the doctor said they couldn't save the baby. Did we lose our little sibling?"

The twins had often talked to the baby through Evelyn's stomach, delighting in every tiny kick. Now that hope had been cruelly snatched away.

"There will be other chances." Dominic closed his eyes against the pain. No one had wanted this baby more than him - their first child conceived purely from love, not obligation.

He brought Evelyn's cold palm to his lips, whispering hoarsely, "Forgive me, Evie. I failed you."

The hospital had become a grim battlefield that day, thick with tension.

Every medical professional worked with desperate urgency, knowing the consequences of failure. Even the hospital director personally intervened to placate Dominic.

No one dared make mistakes with the notorious Blackwood empire's wrath hanging over them.

At 4 PM, Evelyn's condition suddenly deteriorated. Severe bleeding sent her rushing back to surgery.

Bodyguards cleared the ICU corridors as Dominic watched them wheel his pale, lifeless wife away. At the last moment, he slammed a hand against the operating room doors.

The hospital director nearly collapsed from panic. "Mr. Blackwood, please! We must focus on saving your wife. Any interference could—"

His plea died as Dominic seized him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly.

The billionaire's voice dripped lethal promise. "Listen carefully. If my wife doesn't walk out of here alive, neither will your hospital."